It is not just a new prosthetic hands, beautiful and technology, but it is the paradigm of the new idea of the hand prosthesis; has already proven to work and is being tested on patients: is able to transform the thought in movement and return tactile sensations, even without requiring the need for surgery to be implanted with the person who will wear and can be put commercially at very low figures, to unite the spread of technology to a strong focus on social, typical of the research institute of biorobotics the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa. A real novelty lies in the aesthetics of the prosthesis, designed through collaboration that has been established between researchers and designers, during the project. “It ‘a prosthesis on display and not to hide”, summarizes Christian Cipriani, professor at the Institute of biorobotics the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa and coordinator of the “My-HAND”, funded with over 400 thousand euro from the Ministry of’ education, universities and research, which stands for “Myoelectric-Hand prosthesis with Afferent feedback Non-invasive Delivery”, dedicated to the development of non-invasive technologies to facilitate the recovery of sensory and motor functions of people who have suffered the amputation of a hand. As part of this project has been developed the technology for prosthetic hands that combines “beauty” and technology.
The “bionic hand” developed with “My-Hand” is in continuity with another project coordinated by Christian Cipriani and anche’esso just ended, “WAY”, funded by the European Commission, for the seventh Framework Programme, carried out by a consortium of partners, led by the University of Tuscany. With the project “WAY”, in addition to the “robotic glove”, the exoskeleton to restore motor control in the hands of people with problems in using this limb due to neurological damage, it was possible to develop the technology to “implant” the revolutionary new “bionic hand” without going to the operating room.
Now the prosthesis, “beautiful” and with a sophisticated technological “heart”, is ready for clinical trials and is located in the laboratory, for latest checks. After passing the test with patients, researchers are convinced of the fact that established companies or start-ups are able to grasp and to “translate” the results of the project “My-HAND” in commercial products, soon to be put at the disposal of amputees at lower prices – for un’deaa – than a smartphone last generation. The market is potentially large: according to some estimates, every year in Europe there are more than 2 thousand new cases of amputation of the hand.
The main result of “My-HAND” is an innovative prosthetic bionic hand, with tactile sensors and characterized by a high dexterity, which allows it to fulfill all the sockets and postures needed in everyday life. The hand prosthesis, is distinguished with respect to the other for its being “light”, much in weight as in the cost, as well as for the technology and design that, just as the technology, beyond the traditional concept of hand prosthesis, starting from how to connect with the patient who will wear the prosthesis.
The hand, while translating movements in the intentions of the person who wears it and to which it returns even tactile sensations, does not require surgery to be ” implanted “. The movements and hand grips can be activated and controlled through sensors in an almost natural (easily) wearable, which detect the nerve signals that pass through the muscles, when you perform these movements. So the intentions of the person can “become” the movements of the prosthesis.
The tactile sensors integrated on the fingers record interactions with the environment and – thanks to a system of small vibrators placed on the remains of ‘ limb – you can return tactile sensations, restoring also what researchers call the “return sensory physiological”. The great advantage of these technologies, which are derived from the project “WAY”, is the ability to be implanted without the need to move from the operating room and to act on invasive patient. To achieve these results, the team of the Institute of biorobotics SSSA has followed a method equally innovative. “We started – explains the coordinator Christian Cipriani – designing the exterior, the envelope that contains the technology and, in collaboration with the designers of the ‘DARC Studio’ in Rome, we have developed a prosthetic aesthetically appealing.”
Having developed the aesthetic details, engineers, led by researcher Marco Controzzi, have “filled” mechanisms, technology and artificial intelligence, the inside of the hand, achieving a result that combines functionality and robustness to aesthetic refinement. “The Hand – underlines Marco Controzzi – uses three electric motors and an opposable thumb to grasp objects of different shapes and different weight. Another new technology is particularly relevant – he adds – consists of a mechanism invented biorobotics Institute of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, the subject of international patent, which, with only one engine, allows rotation of the thumb or the decline of the index in an alternating manner. This possibility – ends – ensures the execution of all sockets without affecting the weight but ensuring high robustness “.
Alessio Tommasetti of DARC Studio in Rome contributed to the project My-HAND drawing the revolutionary prosthesis . “It was a very difficult task was a challenge – emphasizes the designer – but we are proud to have it accepted. Often we invaded the technical field of bioengineers with art and design, but abbiavo teamed effective in synergy we have developed a highly innovative concept. “
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Source: SSSA
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